Netherlands: right-wing populist or liberal?

Niederlande - rechtspopulistisch oder liberal?

On 15th March there will be a general election to choose a new Dutch government. The outcome is uncertain. Will the right-wing populist Geert Wilders be the prime minister in a right-wing coalition? With his anti-Islam stance, Wilders has ushered in a transformation of Dutch politics. He wants to close all the mosques, re-impose border controls, bar the country to Muslim immigrants. And following the British example, Wilders is demanding that the Netherlands leave the EU. Like other right-wing politicians in Europe, he is profiting from dissatisfaction with established politics. Drastic cuts in social services and health spending have added fuel to the fire. Alexander Steinbach reports for WELTjournal from a country that was once the poster- boy for liberal values and tolerance, and analyses the political and social situation in the run-up to the election, which could point the way ahead for the whole of Europe.